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Written by the Pro Energy Consultants team of experts, we're educating the world on how to reduce energy consumption, lower energy bills, solve indoor comfort issues and improve indoor air quality. Oh yeah, and we're helping the environment too! If you'd like to join our Mission, see our Franchise Opportunities.

Monday, October 28, 2013

Once again we used the power of social media to focus on
daily education (and sometimes amusement) in
support of October being National
Energy Awareness month. This is just one
way we seek to fulfill our Mission to Save Energy, Save Money and Save The
Environment. Looking back over the month, here are the top insights.

You are worried about
the impact of winter on your home energy bills and comfort.

There is still time to prepare for the coming frigid winter

Our most popular posts were around the frigid winter weather
predictions ahead, and how NOW is the time to prepare for Mother Nature and the
rising heating costs. While many people
may contemplate a new high efficiency furnace as the solution, remember that
may NOT in fact be your problem. Prevent
yourself from wasting thousands of dollars by having your home tested first to
really figure out what’s going on.

Insulate yourself
from energy loss.

Our two-part series on understanding the role of insulation
and the different types of insulation available was a hot item. Missing insulation is consistently one of the
top 3 issues we find during our home energy audits. To minimize the cost of your insulation – and
maximize your benefit – you first need to know exactly where the insulation is
missing from, and if there are related issues that need addressed beforehand.

You like animals in
sweaters.

'Sweater Weather' included Scottish ponies in sweaters

Hmmm….we won’t judge!
Our Friday Facebook ‘Sweater Weather’ feature was such a hit, we’re
thinking of running a contest where you can vote for the Sweater Champion –
stay tuned!

And remember, you can always look back on our energy saving
tips anytime – it doesn’t have to be Energy Awareness Month.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Last month Caleb Weatherbee, The Farmers’ Almanac
pseudonymous weather forecaster, alerted us to some dire predictions for the
coming winter season. Mr. Weatherbee stated that in the coming months we should
anticipate a combination of both low temperatures and high utility bills.

Pro Energy Consultants took that prediction as an
opportunity to present a two-part series about the importance of insulation. In
September’s blog post, we covered the ways in which insulation can reduce heat loss or
gain while saving you money on energy bills. This month we are sharing further
details on the various types of insulation and the R Value system that
home-owners should consider.

Do the Research
Before Spending Money on Insulation

Which type of insulation is the best choice for your home
depends on a variety of factors including the following: How much insulation is needed and where
specifically it needs to be applied; R-value based on the climate and location
of the home; design of the home; is this a remodel of an existing home; how
much do you plan to spend; and how much do you plan to save on energy costs
over what period of time. Other considerations involve the installation. Are
you adding insulation as a DIY project or do you plan to hire professional
installers?

A professional energy assessment of your home will provide
UNBIASED insights on most of these issues. (Sometimes you may even learn that
your problem is not related to insulation at all.) It will also tell you if,
and where, you have air leak issues. If you do, these should be addressed first
before making any other investments.

Types of Insulation

·Batts and
Roll Insulation is the most common type of insulation. It comes in long
rolls of pastel-colored fluff and is easy enough for DIY installation in open
areas such as unfinished attics and basements. This low cost insulation is made
from glass fibers or rock wool and is already sized to roll out between the
studs and beams in your home.

·Loose
Fill Insulation comes in loose fiber form or fiber pellets and is usually made
from cellulose, fiberglass or rock wool. Loose fill material is pumped or blown
into a wall cavity by a machine, so this is not typically done by a DIY
homeowner. This is a good solution if you are remodeling your home and need to insulate
inside existing walls and fill in empty nooks and crannies to eliminate cold
spots.

·Spray
Foam can be blown into walls, onto attic surfaces or under floors by
professionals. Consumers can buy a similar spray foam product in small aerosol
cans that can be used to reduce air leakage in holes and cracks such as window
and door frames, and electrical and plumbing penetrations.

·Rigid
Foam looks like large sheets of Styrofoam and is very effective for exterior
wall sheathing, interior sheathing and for basement walls and attics. The
R-values for Rigid Foam is up to 2 times greater than most other insulating
materials of the same thickness is typically more expensive than other types of
insulation.

·Green
Insulation is an example of what’s old is new again. This includes natural
materials such as cotton, sheep’s wool, straw, hemp and other materials made
from plant-based substances.

R-Values

Regardless of the type of insulation you choose for your
home, all varieties are rated by R-values. This rating system measures levels
of thermal resistance with the higher R-values providing greater insulation
effectiveness for both summer and winter temperatures. To determine your
insulation needs, use an insulation calculator that factors your geographic
location and climate.

Insulation is just one element to consider in your
winter-weather preparations. The important thing to remember is that NOW
is the
time to act! Stay tuned and connect with us for more information. Please
see the links below to find us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.